Gems of Subhashitah- Part 2

Good people vs bad people

1.        गुणदोषौ बुधौ गृह्णान्निन्दुक्ष्वेडाविवेश्वरः ।

शिरसा श्लाघते पूर्वं परं कण्ठे नियच्छति ॥

gunadoshau budhau gruhnannindukshvedaviveshvarah |

shirasa shlaghate purvam param kanthe niyacchati ||

An intelligent man always accepts virtues or faults just like lord Shiva who has kept the moon on his head and has blocked poison in his neck.

2.      हरेः पादाहतिः श्लाघ्या न श्लाघ्यं खररोहणम् ।

स्पर्धापि विदुषा युक्ता न युक्ता मूर्खमित्रता ॥

hareh padahatih shlaghya na shlaghyam khararohanam |

spardhapi vidusha yukta na yukta murkhamitrata ||

It is always better to go under the feet of a lion rather than sit on a donkey. Similarly competition with scholars is always better than friendship with the foolish.

3.       स्तोकेनोन्नतिमायाति स्तोकेनायात्यधोगतिम् ।

अहो सुसदृशी वृत्तिस्तुलाकोटेः खलस्य च ।

stokenonnatimayati stokenayatyadhogatim |

aho susadrushi vruttistulakoteh khalasya ca ||

Wicked people are just like the rod of a weighing machine which moves up and down with little difference. They become happy or sad just by the mere sign of prosperity or poverty.

4.      छिन्नोपि रोहति तरुः क्षीणोप्युपचीयते पुनश्चन्द्रः ।

इति विमृशन्तः सन्तः संतप्यन्ते न विप्लुता लोके ॥

Chhinnopi rohati taruh kshinopyupachiyate punashchandrah |

Iti vimrushantah santh santapyante na vipluta loke ||

A tree though cut down, grows again; the moon though waned, waxes again, thus reflecting good men are not troubled in this world, when plunged in misery.

5.      निन्दां यः कुरुते साधोः तथा स्वं दूषयति असौ ।

खे भू्तिं यः त्यजेत् उच्चैः मूर्ध्नि तस्य एव सा पतेत् ॥

nindam yah kurute sadhoh tatha svam dushayati asau |

khe bhutim yah tyajet ucaih murdhni tasya eva sa patet ||

The one who criticizes good people, indirectly brings criticism on himself. Just as a stone thrown in the sky falls on the very person who throws it.

6.      विद्या विवादाय धनं मदाय खलस्य शक्तिः परपीडनाय ।

साधोस्तु सर्वं विपरितमेतत् ज्ञानाय दानाय च रक्षणाय ॥

Vidya vivadaya dhanam madaya khalasya shaktih parapidanaya |

Sadhostu sarvam viparitametat dnyanaya danaya ca rakshanaya ||

Knowledge possessed by a wicked man is used by him only for arguments, his wealth results in him becoming an egoistic person and his power is used just to trouble others. On the other hand, the same knowledge, wealth and power in the hands of a good man is used for good purposes, for donation and for the protection of the weak.

7.      मृगमीनसज्जनानां तृणजलसंतोषविहितवृत्तीनाम् ।

लुब्धकधीवरपिशुना निष्कारणवैरिणो जगति ॥

Mrug-meen-sajjananam trun-jal-santoshvihitvruttinam |

Lubdhak-dhivar-pishuna nishkaranvairino jagati ||

Deer, fish and good people are pleased with grass, water and contentment respectively. (They need little and do not harass others) Though there are hunters, fishermen and bad people who trouble them respectively.

8.      मनस्यन्यद्वचस्यन्यत् कार्ये चान्यद्दुरात्मनाम् ।

मनस्येकं वचस्येकं कार्ये चैकं महात्मनाम् ।

Manasyanyadvachasyanyat karye chanyduratmnaam|

Manasyekam vachsyekam karye chaikam mahatmnaam||

Thinking one thing in mind, speaking and doing something else in words and deed; this is the hall mark of the behaviour of bad people. But good people have uniformity in their thinking, speech as well as in act, that is, harmony in thought, word and deed.

Hard work

1.      उद्यमेन हि सिद्ध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः।

न हि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगाः॥

Udyamena hi siddhyanti karyani na manorathaih |

Na hi suptsya simhasya pravishanti mukhe mrugah||

Any task comes to fruition due to hard work only; not merely by dreams. Animals never enter into the mouth of a sleeping lion.

2.      नात्त्युच्चशिखरो मेरुर्नातिनीचं रसातलम्।

व्यवसायद्वितीयानां नाप्यपारो महोदधिः॥

Nattyuchchashikharo merurnatinicham rasatalam |

Vyavasayadvitiyanam napyaparo mahodadhihi ||

The mountain peak Meru (मेरु) is not the highest peak, rasatal (रसातल) is not the deepest underworld or ocean for diligent people.

3.       न दैवमपि संचिन्त्य त्यजेदुद्यममात्मनः।

अनुद्यमेन कस्तैलं तिलेभ्यः प्राप्तुमिच्छति॥

Na divamapi samchintya tyajedudyamamatmanah|

Anudyamena kastailam tilebhyah  praptumichchati||

One should not give up his/her work by thinking of fate. How can an idle man get oil from sesame seeds?

Knowledge

1.      यो न संचरते देशान् यो न सेवेत पण्डितान् ।

तस्य संकुचिता बुद्धिर्घृतबिन्दुरिवाम्भसि ॥

yo na samcarate deshan yon a seveta panditan |

tasya samkucita buddhirghrutabindurivambhasi ||

A person who neither travels to different regions nor serves learned people; his intelligence contracts as a drop of ghee in water (which contracts and goes to the bottom of the water).

2.      येषां न विद्या न तपो न दानं ज्ञानं न शीलं न गुणो न धर्मः ।

ते मृत्युलोके भुवि भारभूता मनुष्यरूपेण मृगाश्चरन्ति ॥

yesham na vidya na tapo na danam dnyanam na shilam na guno na dharmah |

te mrutyuloke bhuvi bharabhuta manushyarupena mrugashcaranti ||

Those who do not have knowledge, penance, virtues of donation, wisdom, character, virtues and good conduct; they are just animals in the form of human beings who are verily a burden on this earth.

3.      यः पठति लिखति पश्यति परिपृच्छति पण्डितानुपासयति ।

तस्य दिवाकरकिरणैर्नलिनीदलमिव विकास्यते बुद्धिः ॥

yah pathati likhati pashyati pariprucchati panditanupasayati |

tasya divakarakiranairnalinidalamiva vikasyate buddhih ||

The one who reads, writes, observes, asks and serves scholars, his wisdom blooms like the lotus that blossoms by the rays of the sun. In short, the one who is hardworking and curious develops himself.

4.      अनेकसंशयोच्छिदि परोक्षार्थस्य दर्शकम्।

सर्वस्य लोचनं शास्त्रं यस्य नास्त्यन्ध एव सः॥

Anekasamshayachchhidi paroksharthasya darshakam |

Sarvasya lochanam shastram yasya nastyandha eva sah ||

Knowledge clears our doubts. It shows things which are hidden out of sight. It is the eyesight for all. Thus, an ignorant person can be said to be verily blind.

5.      अज्ञः सुखमाराध्यः सुखतरमाराध्यते विशेषज्ञः ।

ज्ञानलवदुर्विदग्धं ब्रह्मोपि नरं न रञ्जयति ॥

Adnyah sukhamaradhyah sukhataramaradhyate visheshdnyah |

Dnyanalavadurvidagdham brahmopi naram na ranjayati ||

An ignorant man can be pleased easily; a wise man can be persuaded more easily, but God Brahma himself will not be able to win over a man puffed up with the gain of knowledge.

6.      प्रभूतवयसः पुंसः धियः पाकः प्रवर्तते ।

जीर्णस्य चन्दनतरोः आमोदः उपजायते ॥

prabhutavayasah punsah dhiyah pakah pravartate |

jirnasya candanataroh amodah upajayate ||

A human being gets mature as he/she gets older and older. This can be compared to an old sandalwood tree that gives more fragrance.

7.      न चोरहार्यं न च राजहार्यं न भ्रातृभाज्यं न च भारकारि ।

व्यये कृते वर्धत एव नित्यं विद्याधनं सर्वधनप्रधानम् ॥

Na coraharyam na ca rajaharyam na bhratrubhajyam na ca bharakari |

Vyaye krute vardhata eva nityam vidyadhanam sarvadhanapradhanam ||

It cannot be stolen by thieves, nor can it be taken away by kings, it cannot be divided among brothers, it does not cause a load on your shoulders. If spent, indeed it is always growing. The wealth of knowledge is the most superior wealth among all.

8.      यस्य नास्ति विवेकस्तु केवलं यो बहुश्रुत:।

न स जानाति शास्त्रार्थान्दर्वी पाकरसानिव॥

Yasya nasti vivekstu kevalm yo bahushruth |

Na sa janati shastrarthandrvi pakrasaniv||

Merely reading books doesn’t make anyone wise without understanding. He does not gain the true essence even though he gathers information. Just like a ladle placed in a pot of food remains clueless of the taste.

9.      भूतानि सन्ति सकलानि बहूनि दिक्षु बोधान्वितानि विरलानि भवन्ति किन्तु ।

वृक्षा भवन्ति फलपल्लवजालयुक्ताः कल्पद्रुमास्तु विरलाः खलु सम्भवन्ति ॥

Bhutani santi sakalani bahuni dikshu bodhanvitani viralani bhavanti kintu |

Vruksha bhavanti phalapallavajalayuktah kalpadrumastu varalah khalu sambhavanti ||

Though there are many living beings around, the truly intelligent are very rare. There may be many trees with fruits and leaves on this earth, but the Kalpavruksha (the tree which fulfils all wishes) is very rare.

10. क्षणश: कणशश्चैव विद्यामर्थं च साधयेत्॥

क्षणे नष्टे कुतो विद्या कणे नष्टे कुतो धनम्॥

Kshanashah kanashashcaiv vidyamartham ch sadhyet||

Kshane nashte kuto vidya kane nashte kuto dhanam||

Knowledge should be gained by studying every second. Wealth should be gathered by collecting every single penny. The one who doesn’t care for seconds (time) cannot get knowledge, similarly who doesn’t care for pennies can never be rich. (Work every second and care for every small thing)

11. अनेकसंशयोच्छिदि परोक्षार्थस्य दर्शकम्।

सर्वस्य लोचनं शास्त्रं यस्य नास्त्यन्ध एव सः॥

Anekasamshayachchhidi paroksharthasya darshakam |

Sarvasya lochanam shastram yasya nastyandha eva sah ||

Knowledge clears our doubts. It shows things which are hidden out of sight. It is the eyesight for all. Thus, an ignorant person can be said to be verily blind.

12. बाल्यमल्पदिनैरेव यौवनश्रीस्ततो जरा।

देहेऽपि नैकरुपत्व काऽऽस्था बाह्येषु वस्तुषु॥

Balyamalpdinairev youvanshristato jara|

Dehepi naikrupatv kastha bahyeshu vastushu||

Childhood goes away after a short spell, Youth and old age come after one another. When the body (life) itself has no permanence, why should a human mind dwell on worldly things? (believe in the true knowledge)